Portable collapsible playpen

ABSTRACT

A playpen which in a preferred embodiment is inclusive of a bottom cushion as a part of each of upwardly foldable floor segments pivotable from adjacent fence elements attached in series to other consecutive similar sections with the last section being joinable with the first section of the series and with the upwardly foldable floor segments when downwardly mounted being joinable with adjacent other floor sections preventable of upward movement of any one or more of the floor sections when in a closed-fence state, the playpen being collapsibly foldable in an accordion-like fashion resulting from intermediate hinge elements between alternate ones of the several sections of the series.

[ Dec. 11, 1973 Hargett PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE PLAYPEN PrimaryExaminer-James C. Mitchell [76] Inventor: Lawrence W. Hargett, 17 OakAve., Atmmey wmlam Bough et Tenafly, NJ. 07670 [22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1972ABSTRACT [21] App]. No.: 227,840 A playpen which in a preferredembodiment is inclusive of a bottom cushion as a part of each ofupwardly foldable floor segments pivotable from adjacent fence [2%]559990?) elements attach6d in Series to other consecutive Simi i 99 larsections with the last section being joinable with l 1 care the firstsection of the series and with the upwardly foldable floor segments whendownwardly mounted being joinable with adjacent other floor sectionspre- [56] References Clted ventable of upward movement of any one ormore of UNITED STATES PATENTS the floor sections when in a closed-fencestate, the 2,629,110 2/1953 Fournier 5/99 C playpen being collapsiblyfoldable in an accordion-like 2,766,464 /1956 fl R fashion resultingfrom intermediate hinge elements be- 2,s25,071 3/1958 Landry et al 5/99R tween alternate ones f the Several Sections f the ries.

9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures I200 9 0 IO d I IOc i l2 0 0 0 IOb lOf 8 QI T |3b 4 e- J f j 9 9b v 9f I20 a e g 1 i q A |2c I a l2b 9 PATENTEDDEC 1 I I975 SHEET 2 [IF 2 FIG.7B

, 1 PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE PLAYPEN This invention relates to a portablecollapsible table playpens of a collapsible type typically such asillustrated and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,490,296, and U.S. Pat. No.2,629,110, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,489,188, for example, all of whichrequire a separate pad, and which are all plagued with various problemssuch as the separate one or more pads being easily lifted or rumpled bythe child playing thereon, and/or of one or more of the sections beingseparately liftable and/or erroneously depressible because of the weightof the child, and/or insufficient securing connections between adjacentfloor sections as to avoid unstable, shaky pen structure and/orrequiring a plurality of separate transportable parts such as the penbeing transportable separate from the cushion( s) and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to obtain aportable collapsible playpen which overcomes one or more of the problemsand/or difficulties discussed above.

Another object is to obtain a portable collapsible playpen unitary inthe assembled combination such that it readily provides a singlecollapsible unit of compact collapsed-nature.

Another object is to obtain a portable collapsible v playpen of a normalstructure.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and followingdisclosure.

One or more of the preceding objects are obtained by the invention asdescribed and typically illustrated by the following disclosure.

Broadly the invention includes a unit in which the pad is an integralpart of the assembled combination such that a separate pad is notrequired to prevent a child's foot from accidentally'becoming wedged orthe hand or fingers pinched between adjacent foldable sections of thefloor area. The structure and support is provided between the severaldownwardly folding pieshaped triangular sections such that in apreferred embodiment each of the sections interlocks with adjacentsections in the downwardly folded positions as the series of consecutiveseparate floor sections are brought together and the ends of the endsections of the series are attached to unify the playpen into aplaypen-shape. By virtue of the pad structure being included as anintimate part of the folding sections of the playpen, in the folding ofthe playpen in an accordion like manner, additional space between thespacing structure or element need be located only at every other hingeposition between consecutive sections of the series. In a preferredembodiment of the invention a rigid floor member on which the cushion ofeach respective section is mounted or mountable, is with the cushion ontop thereof enclosed within an envelope-like casing which may be eitherpermanently fixedly attached to each section enclosing the rigid memberand the cushion or may be movably tied such as with strings onto eachsection and removable for cleaning, repair, or the like. In theembodiments including the enclosing envelope, it is not essentialalthough it is preferred that the cushion be fixedly mounted such as bygluing or other suitable means on the upper surface of the typicallytriangular shaped pie section which is upwardly foldable. In embodimentsnot including the additional enclosing envelope casing, the plastic mayhave a surface finish such as to eliminate the need of a separate coverandthe plastic may be itself independently secured to the rigid floormember. Any suitable and/or conventional plastic or other fabric may beutilized as the encasing'envelope. Similarly, the cushion member may beof any suitable elastic-like member which may or may not includesprings, but in a preferred embodiment is an elastomer material such aspreferably urethane foam of some type as might be conventional and/ordesired. The rigid floor member which is preferably by hinges eachattached for pivotable upward swinging movement is of any rigidcomposition normally in a flat sheet-like shape such as for examplecellulosic fiber-board or of any suitable plastic as may be desiredand/or conventional. The upright fence elements of each of the sectionsof the series may be either constructed in a conventional playpen-fencearrangement or may be solid plastic preferably of a transparent natureand also preferably including tinting so as to provide some degree ofthe shade when sitting in the out of doors. The plastic member in sheetform may or may not be perforated to provide some ventilation as mightbe desired. It is equally a part of the present invention to includeoptionally overhead flap members which will fold upwardly in order toprovide a degree of shade and may be transparent and preferably whenattached to one another are substantially a watershed.

The series of consecutive sections may be a single series or may be aplurality of separate series interconnectable and preferably include aneasy attaching means which provides secure attachment of the matchingopposite end of the series of consecutive separate sections.

THE FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates typically a perspective side overheadview of a playpen embodiment of the present invention in the assembledstate.

FIG. 1A illustrates the area circumscribed by line A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical playpen such as that of FIG. 1 in apartially dissassembled or unfolded state, shown in overhead perspectiveview.

FIG. 3 illustrates an in-part side perspective view of a single section,illustrating the arrangement of the hinges with the floor rigid member,together with illustrating a solid side-fence panel.

FIG. 4 illustrates an elevation plan in-part view of a floor section ofa playpen of the present invention in an gasembled state.

- FIG. 5 illustrates an in-part view as taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4of the floor section.

FIG. 6 illustrates an elevation plan view of a typical embodiment of thepresent invention such as that of FIG. 1 in a collpased portable state.

FIG. 7A through FIG. 7E illustrates in elevation plan viewdiagrammatically different alternative embodiments of the inventionhaving different shapes but embodying the inventive structure andcombination of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates a playpen 8.The playpen 8 is divided into a series of consecutive units 9a, 9b, 9c,9d,

9e, and 9f with 9a section and 9f section at their respective ends ofthe series being joined together by latching means 9g and 9g. Disclosedin this figure for each unit is typically the fencing element 10d andthe V-shaped floor cushion 11d. Fencing element 10a is in thisparticular embodiment connected to an intermediate fence element 12a byhinge 12b and 12b while the fencing element 10b is attached by hinges12c and 12c. At the next junction, i.e. the junction of the fenceelement 10b and 100 there is not required an intermediate section but ismerely located a hinge 13a and 13b (not viewable). In every other hingesite, i.e. occurring alternately, is an intermediate element such aselement l2aa and element l2aaa.

FIG. 1A illustrates the area circumscribed by line A of FIG. 1.Illustrated in greater detail is a hinge female member 15 having a base16 mounted on the fence 10f and secured by the male pivoted element 17inserted and wedgingly secured on the member 15 through the aperture 18thereof. The male suitable member 17 is mounted on the fence 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates typically a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in apartially opened condition with the corresponding portions numbered asin FIG. 1. Additionally illustrated are the lateral extending maleinserts such as overlapping member 1% and 19d and 19e. Also illustratedare the receptacles 20a, and 200. The lateral flange of the unit 9a isnot viewable because it is in the inserted insert recess also notviewable of the unit 9b. Similarly, the lateral flange of 9c is notviewable as inserted in the recess of the unit 9d. The cushion lle isviewable from an underside as presently turned upwardly which is theposition in which all the V-shaped cushions are turned immediately priorto the collapsing in shape of the playpen in an accordion-like manner.

FIG. 4 illustrates in elevation plan view an in-part viewdiagrammatically of a playpen such as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1.In particular there is illustrated in phantom the respective positionsof the lateral inserts of the particular'cushion sections relative tothe adjacent sections insert-receivable recess whereby the cushionsections become interlocked with one another offering support to eachother and also preventing the raising of any one or more ofthe sectionsprior to the opening of the playpen in a manner such as illustrated inFIG. 2. Each of FIGS. 3 and 4 typically illustrate the position of thecushion hinges such as hinges 21a and 21b, and the hinges 2laa and 21bbrespectively.

Taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 is a view illustrated as an in-part viewin cross section in FIG. 5 disclosing a preferred embodiment in which anupper cushion of a section such as cushion 11d and a cushion 12d arerespectively mounted on a rigid triangular sheet 22d and 23d,respectively attached to one another by an intermediate glue layer 24dand 25d. The rigid member 22d and the cushion 11d are encased within aplastic envelope having upper face 26d and lower face 26d, while theadjacent rigid element 23d and cushion 12d are encased within a plasticenclosure having upper face 27d and lower face 27d, with the transversemember 19d extending through an aperture in the edge 26dd of the plasticenvelope 26 through an aperture in the side 27dd of the plastic envelope27 into the recess of the section 9d composed of the cushion 12d and therigid member 23d and the plastic envelope 27.

FIG. 6 illustrates in elevation plan view a collapsed view in theportable state of the embodiment of FIG. 1, suitably labeled.

FIGS. 7A through 7E illustrate diagrammatically elevation plan views ofdifferently shaped playpens of the present invention. In particular,FIG. 7A illustrates a triangular configuration, FIG. 7B illustrates asquare configuration, FIG. 7C illustrates a five-sided embodiment, FIG.7D illustrates a six-sided embodiment such as that of FIG. 1, and FIG.7B illustrates a round embodiment having eight triangular pad sectionspivotably mounted for upward pivotable movement. On each of theillustrated embodiments of FIGS. 7A through 7E, typical locations of theintermediate hinges and/or the intermediate hinge comer section areillustrated.

It should be understood that wherever the hinged corner element isillustrated, in a variation thereof there may be no hinged cornerelement and merely a regular comer hinge, the full requirement beingthat at least every other joining of the units of the series include anintermediate section providing a spacing sufficient for the upturnedcushions when the playpen is collapsed into the accordion arrangement.Although not illustrated, there may be any suitable type of belt orlatch for securing the two or more sections respectively to one anotherin the collapsed state, thereby facilitating the portable naturethereof.

It is apparent from the preceding disclosure that the playpen of thepresent invention is especially suitable for picnics and the like, beingespecially portable in automobiles, airplanes, or even on backpacks forexample.

It is within the scope of the present invention and within the spiritthereof to use obvious alternative elements and substances andequivalents thereof as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skillin this particular field of endeavor.

I claim:

1. A portable collapsable play-pen comprising in combination: a seriesof a plurality of at least three separate serially-interconnectedplay-pen means each including a substantially upright fence elementhaving a base and having a top of predetermined height sufficient toserve as a restraining barrier to a child, each playpen means furtherincluding a substantially triangularly-shaped pad means having a baseside and two intersecting other sides and having a substantially flatupper surface, and at least one hinge element mounted pivotablyconnecting each base side with one of said playpen means base such thatsaid pad means is pivotable upwardly to a position in a planesubstantially parallel with said upright fence element, said pad meansincluding a substantially rigid support member of substantiallytriangular shape and a cushion element fixedly mounted on said uppersupporting face, attaching means for detachably joining each of a firstand a last play-pen means and hinge means laterally pivotablyinterconnecting adjacent ones of said series such that fences of saidseries are foldable on one another in an accordion-like state, saidhinge means including a spacing structure mounted alternately betweenevery otheroccurring ones of said upright fence elements including ahinge element on each of opposite lateral edges connected pivotably tothe respective opposing consecutive sides.

2. The portable playpen of claim 1, in which each spacing-structuredefines a flange extending angularly from juxtaposed fence elements andincludes a separate hinge element on each laterally spaced-apart ends ofthe flange with one flange hinge element connected to one end of one ofthe juxtaposed fence elements and with 'the other flange-mounted hingeelement connected to one end of the other juxtaposed fence element, eachof the respectively flange-mounted hinge elements being mountedpivotably closable inwardly foldable of the juxtaposed fence elementsinwardly toward oneanother, and remaining hinge means including anadditional hinge element, one additional hinge element being between aremaining end of one of the juxtaposed fence elements and anext-occurring fence element of said series of play-pen means, thecombination of flange and hinge element mounted thereon alternating withthe additional hinge element in said series, and said each additionalhinge element of said remaining hinge means being mounted pivotablyopenable outwardly foldable of serieally-connected fence elementsconnected thereby, such that alternate fence elements of said seriesfold inwardly and remaining alternate fence elements of said series foldoutwardly, and such that for the spaced-apart fence elementsspaced-apart by the flange there is provided space into which each ofthe pads of the respectively spaced-apart fence elements are compactlyfoldable upwardly between the inwardly folded spaced-apart fenceelements before folding inwardly the space-apart fence elements.

3. The playpen of claim 2, in which said pad means further includes atleast one lateral extension from one of said other intersecting sidesand the remaining one of said other intersecting sides having a recessedstructure receivable of one of said lateral extensions from another oneof said pad means.

4. The playpen of claim 3, including a plurality of substantiallyflexible casings, each casing substantially enclosing one of said padmeans.

5. The portable playpen of claim 4, in which said intermediate elementsincludes a substantially upright fence element.

6. The portable playpen of claim 1, including a plurality ofsubstantially flexible casings, each casing substantially enclosing oneof said pad means.

7. The portable playpen of claim 1, in which said intermediate elementsincludes a substantially upright fence element.

8. The portable playpen of claim 6, in which said flexible casing is aplastic slip cover.

9. The portable playpen of claim 1, in which said cushion elementcomprises a urethane foam and in which said rigid support membercomprises a cellulosic fiber-board member.

1. A portable collapsable play-pen comprising in combination: a seriesof a plurality of at least three separate seriallyinterconnectedplay-pen means each including a substantially upright fence elementhaving a base and having a top of predetermined height sufficient toserve as a restraining barrier to a child, each playpen means furtherincluding a substantially triangularly-shaped pad means having a baseside and two intersecting other sides and having a substantially flatupper surface, and at least one hinge element mounted pivotablyconnecting each base side with one of said playpen means base such thatsaid pad means is pivotable upwardly to a position in a planesubstantially parallel with said upright fence element, said pad meansincluding a substantially rigid support member of substantiallytriangular shape and a cushion element fixedly mounted on said uppersupporting face, attaching means for detachably joining each of a firstand a last play-pen means and hinge means laterally pivotablyinterconnecting adjacent ones of said series such that fences of saidseries are foldable on one another in an accordion-like state, saidhinge means including a spacing structure mounted alternately betweenevery otheroccurring ones of said upright fence elements including ahinge element on each of opposite lateral edges connected pivotably tothe respective opposing consecutive sides.
 2. The portable playpen ofclaim 1, in which each spacing-structure defines a flange extendingangularly from juxtaposed fence elements and includes a separate hingeelement on each laterally spaced-apart ends of the flange with oneflange hinge element connected to one end of one of the juxtaposed fenceelements and with the other flange-mounted hinge element connected toone end of the other juxtaposed fence element, each of the respectivelyflange-mounted hinge elements being mounted pivotably closable inwardlyfoldable of the juxtaposed fence elements inwardly toward oneanother,and remaining hinge means including an additional hinge element, oneadditional hinge element being between a remaining end of one of thejuxtaposed fence elements and a next-occurring fence element of saidseries of play-pen means, the combination of flange and hinge elementmounted thereon alternating with the additional hinge element in saidseries, and said each additional hinge element of said remaining hingemeans being mounted pivotably openable outwardly foldable ofserieally-connected fence elements connected thereby, such thatalternate fence elements of said series fold inwardly And remainingalternate fence elements of said series fold outwardly, and such thatfor the spaced-apart fence elements spaced-apart by the flange there isprovided space into which each of the pads of the respectivelyspaced-apart fence elements are compactly foldable upwardly between theinwardly folded spaced-apart fence elements before folding inwardly thespace-apart fence elements.
 3. The playpen of claim 2, in which said padmeans further includes at least one lateral extension from one of saidother intersecting sides and the remaining one of said otherintersecting sides having a recessed structure receivable of one of saidlateral extensions from another one of said pad means.
 4. The playpen ofclaim 3, including a plurality of substantially flexible casings, eachcasing substantially enclosing one of said pad means.
 5. The portableplaypen of claim 4, in which said intermediate elements includes asubstantially upright fence element.
 6. The portable playpen of claim 1,including a plurality of substantially flexible casings, each casingsubstantially enclosing one of said pad means.
 7. The portable playpenof claim 1, in which said intermediate elements includes a substantiallyupright fence element.
 8. The portable playpen of claim 6, in which saidflexible casing is a plastic slip cover.
 9. The portable playpen ofclaim 1, in which said cushion element comprises a urethane foam and inwhich said rigid support member comprises a cellulosic fiber-boardmember.